Limestone Cippus with Greek Inscription

The cippus, made of local limestone, has a parallelepiped shape and a carefully finished surface. On one of its sides is an inscription in Greek, arranged over two lines, in which the deity Hera Eleutherìa is mentioned.

This cippus is one of the most important epigraphic testimonies for understanding a specific aspect of the cult practiced within the sacred area of the sanctuary at Capo Colonna. It was discovered accidentally in 1891 to the east of the Temple of Hera, in the open area below the single surviving column, together with other stones that had collapsed toward the sea. The inscription refers to Hera Eleutherìa, an epithet that associates the goddess with the theme of the liberation of slaves and the related ceremonies; in Greek, eleutherìa means “freedom.” This aspect of the cult is also documented in other sanctuaries of ancient Kroton, such as the one at Località Vigna Nuova.

The cippus belongs to the category of votive markers or boundary stones and was probably used either to delimit a specific cult area or as a base for an offering dedicated to the goddess.